[Spectacular prediction, BP+50]
[SubToxic tactics successfully executed, BP+50]
[...]
[Battle victory obtained, Rating: Spectacular! (BP+100)]
[Remaining BP: 470]
One battle, increasing over 400 BP, exceeded Lu Ye's expectations.
He originally assumed Gastly would definitely lose. Unexpectedly, this Swellow was so ineffective.
"Could it be... I genuinely trained too well?" Lu Ye rubbed his chin, murmuring.
Swellow's trainer, Jiang Yun had already entered self-doubting states.
"How can Protect continuously work?" Jiang Yun murmured. "Teachers never taught this method!"
Fieldside reporters swarmed, spotlights flashing, microphones thrust directly at Lu Ye's face.
"Can you discuss your current feelings?"
"Heard you're a popular Pokémon battle streamer. Any experience sharing?"
"Teacher Lu! My daughter's also your fan!"
Since the top eight hadn't concluded, Lu Ye escaped, bringing Gastly back to the contestant tunnels.
"Already reached semifinals, how?" Lu Ye scratched his head.
"I barely trained, right?"
Next on stage was Feng Shu, who'd met Lu Ye once.
Observing Lu Ye's entire match, Feng Shu gained a deeper SubToxic understanding.
"Worthy of Teacher Lu." Feng Shu murmured. "Coming to such competitions, bullying kids, specifically restraining Gastly from evolving..."
"So characteristic of him!"
Ordinary trainers desperately wanted Pokémon to evolve early, gaining stronger battle capabilities for upcoming matches.
But Teacher Lu specifically equipped Gastly with Everstone.
Besides Teacher Lu's extreme self-confidence, Feng Shu found no other explanations.
"I remember Teacher Lu just captured Gastly." Feng Shu was puzzled.
"Training like this under two months... could Teacher Lu also be a breeder?"
Shaking his head, Feng Shu gradually focused.
If he ever reached the semifinals, consulting Teacher Lu would be profitable!
Evening's final match featured Feng Shu's Ivysaur battling a sharp-fanged Golbat.
This Golbat was excellently bred, prematurely mastering power-80 Giga Drain.
But Feng Shu studied under Lu Ye, employing Leech Seed plus Sleep Powder combos with utmost proficiency.
Both Pokémon battled neck-and-neck, nearly exchanging blood types; ultimately, Ivysaur barely claimed victory.
The top eight concluded.
Lu Ye's reaching the semifinals caused the entire grade shock.
Lu Ye's phone buzzed incessantly. Even previously met Coach Zhai Wenyao sent renewed school team invitations.
Right now, Lu Ye was busy declining another contract.
Contracts were provided by Piplup Cup organisers. After signing contestants, they'd provide annual 100,000 yuan training funds plus free training equipment, Poké Blocks, etc.
But this contract held zero appeal for Lu Ye.
Moreover, contract intricacies were numerous. Champion signing contracts absolutely differed from semifinalist contracts.
Lu Ye never planned to pursue trainer paths, naturally lacking signing intentions.
Other semifinalists were Feng Shu, Han Xiaoxiao, and Jiangzhe University's Lü You.
Among these three, two were Lu Ye's fans.
"This isn't the semifinals." Lu Ye's expression was strange. "This is clearly a viewer tournament!"
"If I lost to viewers, wouldn't that be embarrassing?"
Lu Ye rubbed his chin, murmuring. "No, must make Gastly continue training!"
After defeating Swellow, Gastly's body faintly showed evolution's white light, only suppressed by Everstone.
With Blue's provided evolution materials plus Lu Ye's Poké Blocks, evolution was naturally inevitable.
Returning home, Gastly untied its forehead Everstone, relaxedly exhaling.
Lu Ye also opened computers, considering the next video production.
Lu Ye currently had 970,000 followers. Three videos achieving this popularity were extremely rare.
Teacher Lu Teaches You Battle series had numerous ideas, like Anger Point teams, hazard teams, Weakness Policy Palossand, etc.
But lacking materials, the produced video quality wouldn't be optimal.
The system issued another task, also prompting Lu Ye to attempt transformation.
[Task Objective: Reach any section video rankings (excluding Gaming section)]
[Task Rewards: 2000 BP, Random Skill Lv3, Random Purple Item*1]
[Note: Task repeatable]
"Clearly Trainer Development System... but these tasks are too unprofessional."
Lu Ye twitched his mouth corner but nodded.
"But suits my preferences."
Which section to transform to, Lu Ye still considered.
The battle section was Red and numerous big shots' territory. Music and dance sections had extremely high difficulty coefficients.
Thinking repeatedly, Lu Ye could only mix in the Lifestyle section.
"Perfect, can improve meals."
Through numerous attempts, Lu Ye's [Cooking Lv1] successfully upgraded.
[Cooking Lv2: Greatly improves your culinary level. This bonus applies to knife skills, heat control, etc. (With your skills, opening restaurants is more than sufficient.)]
Though Lv3 reached star chef standards, being a food blogger was quite easy.
"Gastly, come help!" Lu Ye called from the kitchen.
Gastly obediently floated beside Lu Ye, curiously observing Lu Ye's actions.
"After steaming potatoes for twenty minutes, help me turn off the heat. I'll prepare the oven!"
Lu Ye's creation this time was Shokugeki no Soma's inaugural dish, Imitation Crispy Roasted Pork.
Adding sautéed mushrooms and onions into golden soft mashed potatoes, wrapping with bacon, tying with strings before garnishing with rosemary and spices.
"Gastly, help me put this in the oven for thirty minutes!"
"Kekeke!" Gastly slurped saliva, using black mist to control plates, stuffing them into ovens.
"Sizzle—"
Red wine and butter in pots emitted rich wine fragrances. After adding seasonings and reducing the sauce, it gradually became viscous, deep red colour.
Gastly deeply inhaled fragrances, longingly watching Lu Ye's actions.
"Ding—"
Roasting completed. Gastly impatiently opened ovens. Rich meat fragrances rushed forth.
Placing bacon potato roast on pristine white plates, and drizzling fragrant deep red sauce.
Lu Ye specially garnished with plating rosemary.
Watching this dish with complete colour and aroma, Lu Ye nodded satisfactorily. "Looks quite good."
"Kekeke (﹃)"
"Want tasting?"
"Kekeke!" Gastly nodded frantically.
"Careful, hot." Lu Ye set up tripods.
"You'll become the first Pokémon food blogger!"
Gastly grinned, using black mist to hold plates before cameras.
Carefully blowing hot air, Gastly first extended its tongue, tentatively licking sauce, immediately squinting its eyes.
"Kekeke~www!"
Despite placed cutlery, Gastly wouldn't use such things, instead opening its gaping maw, directly biting off large roast halves.
Fragrances permeated entire rooms. Lu Ye involuntarily swallowed.
"How is it?"
Gastly didn't answer, cheeks stuffed completely full, chewing vigorously as sauce dripped down mouth corners, displaying incredibly blissful expressions.
Gastly: (′▽`〃)
Curiously, Lu Ye also cut small bacon pieces.
Instantly, Lu Ye's eyes gleamed.
Before him, seemingly appeared numerous Tauros running toward sunsets, red wine continuously fermenting in wooden cellars. Lu Ye and Gastly wore straw hats, sitting on the wilderness, spacing out toward the gentle breezes.
"Inadequate hospitality!"
"Kekeke!" Gastly raised its head from plates, face covered in sauce, grinning widely.
Simultaneously, Gastly's body radiated dazzling white light!